Friday, October 16, 2020

Qantas to launch rescue flights from London, India, South Africa

Qantas plans to restart international flights under a government plan to bring home more of the estimated 25,000 Australians who remain stranded overseas – with some of the special repatriation flights landing at Darwin, which would become a dedicated quarantine hub for arriving passengers.

The move would both avoid adding to the quarantine load on other capital cities, and allow Qantas to carry  as over 150 passengers on each flight under the government's inbound traffic cap.

London and New Delhi are the first destinations for the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, which will land at Darwin's RAAF Base. Travellers will then be taken to Howard Springs – a former worker's camp located 25km south of Darwin – to begin their mandatory 14-day stay.

Howard Springs was previously used to house Australians who were evacuated from Wuhan in the early stages of the pandemic, and also for passengers stranded on the Diamond Princess cruise ship after it docked in Japan.

A government subsidy will cover the essential operating costs of fuel, while Qantas says that "all pilots and cabin crew working on these flights have volunteered for them."

Three Qantas flights from London will depart on 22 October, 7 November and 11 November, with one-way economy fares pegged at a flat rate of $2,150 per person.

Travel on the legs from Sydney and Perth to London – with departures on 19 October, 4 November and 8 November – will also be available at commercial rates and can be booked through Qantas.

Four Qantas flights from New Delhi will depart on 26 October, 9 November, 23 November and 27 November, at one-way economy fares of $1,500 per person.

16/10/20 David Flynn/Executive Traveller

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